Personally, I LOVE to fly, maybe it’s the excitement of a holiday, or going somewhere new, or even coming home to my loved ones, I just love it! However, plenty of people I know, hate flying, it’s the hardest thing about any holiday for them! I know of people out there who hate it so much, they just don’t go anywhere!!  

I have a lot a friends and relatives overseas, who think Australia is SO FAR away from everywhere, and that the flight is just too hard. We Aussies are tough and can handle anything, and so can many of our guests, we see so many people arrive at Caroline Apartments are such long flights we wonder how they are still standing!

So I started to think about, what I do on a flight that makes it that little but more bearable, or even enjoyable, and I have put together a few tips on how to survive a long flight:

First and probably most important, if you are prone to a little travel sickness, prepare yourself with some motion sickness tablets, or even some natural ginger tablets. If you can, ask for seats that are over the wing of the plane, as these have the most stable ride in the whole airplane. It will help guard against the motion that causes airsickness.

Flying causes dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout your flight, and bring some extra snacks if you think you might get hungry.  Don’t drink a lot of alcohol. I know it can be very tempting to just knock yourself into a slumber with a nice, big glass of wine or something stronger, but if you overdo it, you’ll get even more dehydrated. Drink more water if you do decide to have a drink!

Try to stay away from salty things, as they will only dehydrate you more and lowering your salt intake will also help with the discomfort from the swelling, which can happen on long flights. To avoid swelling as much as possible, exercise throughout the flight. Do some basic stretches and walk the length every so often. You will feel much better if you don’t allow your muscles to get stiff.

I find reading on a long flight really good, as you can get caught up in a book, and the next thing you know a couple of hours have passed.

Try and bring a new book with you, that you are excited about reading, or bring a travel guide of the place you are flying to. If reading isn’t your thing as much, bring some magazines and at least you can read little things and look through the pictures. Trashy gossip mag’s are my favourite!!

Most planes have personal TV screens now, and watching a movie or TV shows, can easily pass the time. These are great as they have plenty of music you can listen to as well. I like to bring an iPod with me, and prepare a playlist in advance, of songs I like to listen to. I also think it’s a good idea to have music playing when you are trying to fall asleep; it cancels out the sounds of people talking around you, and the humming of the aeroplane. If you feel like forking out a little, you can buy ‘noise-cancelling headphones’ which have been specially created to block the noise of an aeroplane. Earplugs are a good cheap option too!

Try to sleep!! If your flight is reasonable long you will probably be flying through either your home night time, or the night of your destination. If you can just nap for a couple of hours, you will be surprised how quickly your flight goes, and it’s always a good idea to try and get into the sleeping pattern of your destination early!

Asking for an upgrade never hurts either!!

We, at Caroline Apartments, recently had our Christmas Party, yes a little early, but who can wait?!

Imogene, Anna P, Carly & Agatha at the Christmas Party

Fun was had by all, and we even had a Kris Kringle, everyone seemed happy with their presents, but I know I was stressing for weeks before about what to buy as a gift!

I ‘googled’ as much as I could, but yet there was no page simply titled ‘Kris Kringle ideas!’

So I have gone ahead and created my own list of places to look for ideas:

For the slackers, you can go for something easy (and Yum) like chocolates and/or wine, or the more obvious Calendar for the following year.

For the boys: a footy, a stubby holder or mini-esky, can be easy, or check out this link for some more novelty gifts: http://www.thegiftedman.com.au/index.php?cPath=20

For the girls: jewellery, a cute book, or coffee mugs are some safe, fun options. See this website for some more girly ideas: http://www.girlygifts.com.au/Christmas-Gifts-Under-20-s/276.htm

And the most difficult, as mine was: Unisex!

My personal suggestions are:

• A disposable camera (or a digital if you want to fork out!)
  
• Novelty Key Ring
• Movie tickets
• Photo frame
• A Christmas cap or beanie – depending on where you are in the world!
  
• A CD or DVD
• Lottery Tickets

Get Shopping and Good Luck!

Merry Christmas!

“I just got to Melbourne for the first time. What should I do!?”

Well, this got me thinking. After spending a majority of 2009 and 10 abroad and enjoying Europe and Australasia’s amazing castles and ancient ruins, I realised just how different Australia is to the rest of the world. As a fairly new country we don’t boast castles which the King Henry’s of the world have lived in, or have a particularly long and exciting history, but hey Melbourne is one of the MOST livable cities in the world, and by the number of international guest that we have stay with us here at Caroline Serviced Apartments while relocating their entire lives to Melbourne proves this!

So, to all of you who have just relocated to Melbourne, or are here on holiday, here is a locals favourite pass times…

Read a book in the State Library.

Melbourne’s own version of an ancient building, the State Library has mountains and mountains of books to choose from. Browse the isles for books, magazines, journals and newspapers, check out the extensive film and music collection or wander through one of the many and ever changing art galleries.

Enjoy a champagne picnic while watching a film under the stars at the Moonlight Cinema.

Pack some roast chicken sandwiches and a punnet of fresh strawberries (don’t forget the wine!) and head down to the Royal Botanical Gardens to enjoy a screening of your favourite film. You can even hire bean beds to sink in to! This years season starts on December 16^th and runs all the way through until the 20^th of March, 2011!

Soak up the urban atmosphere in Fitzroy.

Fitzroy’s inner suburban streets contain an eclectic mix of alternative, artistic and trendy elements. Browse quaint and quirky shops, check out colourful public art, flick through cult classics at alternative book stores or rummage through retro fashions at a second hand store. There is an array of eateries along Brunswick, Gertrude, Smith and Johnston Streets, so grab an all day breakfast and a beer and get to know the locals. Grab tram number 112 from Collins St or tram number 86 from Bourke St.

Roller blade along St Kilda esplanade while the sun sets.

Chuck on a stack hat and some knee pads, grab yourself some rollerblades and head down to the esplanade in St Kilda this summer. Join the array of locals who walk and ride along the foreshore. You might even see some little penguins at the St Kilda Breakwater. Grab an ice cream cone and enjoy a warm Melbournian summer night.

Sipping on beers at the Belgian Beer Cafe on a Sunday afternoon.

The Belgian Beer Café (Tram stop number 26 along St Kilda Rd) is housed in a historic bluestone building with rustic furnishings from Belgium and offers an extensive array of draft and bottled Belgium Beers. It’s Melbourne’s largest beer garden and is set among 100 year old elm trees and green, grassy, lawns which boast picnic settings, outdoor bars and barbeques. What more could you want for a cheeky Sunday session?

So what are you waiting for? A Melbournian summer of fun awaits!…

Melbourne Marathon

What have you done today to make yourself feel alive? Melbourne is an amazing city filled with so many experiences to be soaked up and enjoyed. Whether you’re into the arts / music; sport; food or shopping… whatever floats your boat can be found in this city. Yesterday on the 10th day of the 10th month in 2010 [10/10/10] I joined around 20, 000 other runners to take part in the Melbourne Marathon Festival. Admitedly, I wasn’t ready for the full or half marathon challenge, and the 10km event seemed like the perfect distance for me and my fave running partner, Sam Mutimer.

The atmosphere of the crowd, the experience of running along roads that are normally only open to vehicles, being a part of a massive group of people who all value their health and fitness, all added up to a WOW moment. A complete appreciation for living and loving this very moment. When I looked up in the stands and thought about how many talented athletes and sports people have competed on this historic ground…*aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!*… Nothing beats the feeling of running onto the ground at the MCG!

If I could package that feeling I might be very wealthy. The whole experience of challenging oneself to achieve a goal, and then to actually nail it makes all the pain and effort seem like a breeze. The feeling can also be addictive. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could appreciate everything you did with such extreme satisfaction? Sometimes we forget to take a look at how much we’ve learned or grown, as we’re always pushing ourselves toward some future (distant) goal. What about the NOW?

Batman, Robin & Ali with medals

Running amongst all those focused people yesterday inspired me. I’m inspired to get out and explore more of Melbourne. I’m inspired to not put things off til the last minute. I’m inspired to bring the best out of my team at Caroline Apartments. I’m even inspired to train and attempt the Half Marathon next year… but most importantly, I’ve been awakened to live in the now and appreciate every moment. Are you in????? See you at the finishing line

As I have started working at Caroline Serviced Apartments in Brighton whilst studying for my nursing  degree, it has very quickly come to my attention that in life you come across a variety of different situations and individuals.  The limited interpersonal skills that I have developed in my 19 years, through my schooling experiences and via interactions with those directly connected to my life are still a work in progress when it comes to dealing with a broader spectrum than my Brighton bubble.

Having recently taken up a position as a Receptionist for Caroline Apartments in Brighton I enjoy meeting the many guests that stay with us. These guests are not all on holidays or without stresses as they come home from work, or a tiresome day of house hunting and it seems that a warm smile or having someone to talk to can give a sense of relief and make them feel more at home. What’s more the uplifting feeling I get when someone asks me how my day has been or stops for a chat on their way out makes me feel more valued and happy!

Similarly when working at the local hospital as part of my uni studies, I deal with people who are confused;  in pain;  and  who are often very frightened as they await surgery.  At such a time a  smile and a friendly , caring attitude does a great deal to comfort and reassure the patients.  By taking the time to talk to and listen to their thoughts and worries;  they seem to become more positive at with a sense of being of importance and not so alone.

Although a smile may not completely dissolve the pain, fear, worry or anxiety; laughter and a positive spin is by far the best medicine.

Many, including myself can often become far too bogged down in their own stresses that they forget to or don’t take the time to offer a smile or a kind word. So remember that there’s always a nice way of saying everything and that a positive attitude can go a long way! It’s amazing to see the difference it makes!

People often ask me “who is Caroline?”, and while we may not have a team member with that name, we all use it whenever we pick up the phone at work. Caroline means ‘beautiful woman’, ‘joy’ or ‘song of happiness’, and our company name was chosen by taking the name of the beautiful street we are located on in South Yarra. If you’ve ever been to Caroline Street, you’ll agree that it never fails to impress – with those large plane trees forming a dramatic arch across the street leading up the hill. No photo I have ever taken of this street has managed to capture the impressive effect of that archway of trees (maybe I need a better camera). It’s always so much better to view it in person. So perhaps the person who named the street broke into song after he/she planted those trees knowing that it would one day be beautiful!

So how well do you think the meaning of Caroline suits our Serviced Apartments, and our team? Our apartments are definitely unique and some of them have views that you could happily sing about. We have a mixture of ultra modern and functional family accommodation in 2 of the best locations in Melbourne. This convenience has made a lot of people happy during their relocation… and what about the team? Who is Caroline really? I’m not going to get into a discussion about who is more beautiful than another, to me beauty has always been about the personality within. Whenever we employ a new team member, we always hope to find someone that is genuine, approachable, friendly and capable of handling many different types of situations. From our Housekeepers who will do anything possible to make each guest feel at home, to our Front Office team who are the ‘face’ of our business… we aim to live up to our name.

Now what on earth am I going to call my new female kitten? I’m thinking something French might be nice… oui?

Take it or Leaf it

Melbourne in Autumn is spectacular. With the temperature dropping a little, the winter fashion hitting the stores and the city filling up with colourful Autumn leaves. We’ve decided to celebrate not only Autumn, but also the city of Melbourne in our latest competition.

Here’s how to win:

• Become a Fan on our Facebook Page
• Go to a favourite hangout or landmark in Melbourne (or your hometown)
• Take a creative or funny photo of yourself or a friend holding an autumn leaf (or leaves)
• Post it to Caroline Serviced Apartments Facebook Page: Here’s how to do this!
• Get all of your friends to ‘Like’ your photo. Fan Photos can be found on the left hand column, beneath our photo albumns, information and list of Fans.

The photo’s with more than 50 ‘Likes’ or votes will all be included in our Autumn YouTube Video as finalists and also go into the draw to win…..

• Two nights accommodation in our 4.5 star luxury apartments
• A surprise ‘Welcome Pack” on arrival
• A winery tour of the Yarra Valley for 2 people
• 4 x Daily Metcards (Public Transport passes)

Anna from our Brighton property getting into the Autumn theme

In this competition we would love for some of our in-house guests to get involved:

To be instantly included in our finalists, you must take a photo within one of our apartments at either South Yarra or Brighton. Show off your room, your balcony or your view!

All finalists will be announced on Monday 10th May via our YouTube Channel, and the winner will be chosen at random from the finalist entries on 17th May 2010.

Only one photo entry per person, so get creative and have some fun… and send us your best autumn leaf pic!

• For a Summary of the competition Requirements, check this PDF: CSA Autumn Leaf Competition Summary
• For Full Terms and Conditions, see this PDF: Take it Or Leaf it Rules

Albert Park 25 – 28th March 2010

Looking for an adrenaline rush?

Then get caught up in the excitement and roar of the Qantas Australia Grand Prix at Albert Park in March 2010.

We’ve got your accommodation covered. Caroline Serviced Apartments are offering racing fans some fabulous 4.5 star accommodation only 10 – 15 minutes from the track. Why not stay for a 5 nights and give yourself a chance to explore other places Melbourne has to offer?

Get in early though: South Yarra has already booked out and Brighton is filling fast!

This post is not so much about the ‘why’ people relocate, it is about the varied ‘little things’ that people may (or may not) consider when they arrive in a new country. At Caroline Serviced Apartments we get to meet so many guests who have decided to move to Melbourne from overseas. We have helped people set their new life up, and don’t think any question is too silly. We understand how hard and stressful it can be to move, so we do our best to help.

Typical questions that we get asked are:

• How much do local calls cost?
• Which mobile phone supplier is better than the others?
• Is the tap water ok to drink?
• Will my DVDs work in Australian DVD players?
• Is it safe at night in this area?
• Do we need to sort recycling into different bins?

Things that people take for-granted about moving:

• Bank accounts
• Australia has pretty strict quarantine rules for pets – it’ll be a minimum of 30 days  before you can welcome your pet into your new home
• School locations compared to where you want (or can afford) to live
• Mobile phone accessibility / set-up
• Where to buy furniture? Or White goods?
• Is it best to rent something fully-furnished or buy/rent furniture?
• Learning to drive on the opposite side of the road
• Learning new/different road rules
• Different currency and getting used to exchange rates
• When are the public holidays? When is it Daylight Savings time?
• Getting a Tax File Number
• Where can we buy baby items?
• Gyms – where and who are the best?
• The shipment of household items may have an arrival date, but sometimes it sits in customs for weeks! Don’t forget this when planning your accommodation!
• Dentists, doctors, beauticians, hairdressers, masseuse, nail technicians, plastic surgeons

I often have to write references to real estate agents about guests who have no permanent address, and are trying to find somewhere to live, or even if they want to join the local library to get access to free internet to help with their research on places to live.

We also work closely with a number of relocation companies who help families get settled in Melbourne. Sometimes our guests are relocating themselves on their own. Sometimes their Company is covering the costs of their relocation.  Relocations are a huge industry and we are proudly part of it.

What do you think is  (or would be) the biggest challenge for someone who is moving to Australia from overseas?